The Thespians welcome in the team that rudely destroyed them in the first ever series in Chico FEBC history.  Unfortunately history repeated itself…

Game 28  Hernandez vs Millwood
It was Kevin Millwood who got the call on opening day against the Hitmen, and he was rolled out again to open this series.  However, a combination of bad luck, clutch hitting, and wildness again cost Millwood and the Thespians.  Millwood and two relievers combined to give up 15 hits, all singles, 9 walks, 1 HBP, and 2 errors helping Hollywood push across 13 runs.  Chico scored six, including three solo home runs, but Hollywood had eight by the end of the third, making the Thespians show of power, moot.

The essentials:
Game Day 31
Hollywood         233  020  300  13  15  1
Chico                100  112  001   6   11  2

HollywoodData:
Pitching – Hernandez (W) 5.1, Timlin 2.2, Walker .2, Mantei .1
Catching – Matheny 6, Bocachica 3
Home Runs – None
Stolen Bases – None
Injuries – Finley (Brawl 1 game)
Ejections – Finley (Brawl out three additional games – eligible to return after GD 37
Limits Used – None

ChicoData
Pitching – Millwood (L) 2.2, Fyhrie 2.1, Reames 4
Catching – Wilson 4, Flaherty 2.1, Halter 2.2
Home Runs – Delgado (off Hernandez, 4th, 0 on), Mackowiak (off Hernandez, 5th, 0 on), Lopez (off Walker, 9th, 0 on)
Stolen Bases – Roberts
Injuries – Wilson (Collision, 2 games), Flaherty (Foul Tip, 1 game)
Ejections – None
Limits Used – Garcia (A), Mackowiak 3 AB R, 1 AB L, Roberts 4 AB R, 1 AB L

Other Info:
Night game, Temperature in the 90’s, Clear
Wind L-R 10-19
HP Umpire – Rippley (N)

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Game 29  Lieber vs Halama
The Thespians needed a great start from John Halama in order to give their overused bullpen a rest.  Although Halama was able to battle out of jams, a high pitch count ended his day in the sixth.  He only allowed the HItmen a first inning unearned run, but was in trouble in every inning except the fourth.  4 more singles, 3 more walks, 2 more hit batsmen, and another error kept things interesting, but the Hitmen could not push across a second run.

Lieber, on the other hand, was masterful through five, facing the minimum on one hit.  But with back to back singles with one out in the sixth, the Hitmen pulled their starter despite leading 1-0.  Ugueth Urbina struck out the next two hitters to end the sixth, but gave up the tying run on a Jose Cruz home run in the seventh.  With the game a battle of bullpens, the advantage was the Hitmen’s as Chico was still hashing out it’s staff from the previous trade activity.  Little trouble was had by either team through 11.  Thespians closer Scott Williamson entered in the 12th, and immediately showed signs of rust.  He made it through the 13th without giving up a run, but in the 14th he was gassed, and with no other pitchers available, gave up two.  Meanwhile Smoltz and Mantei shut down the Actor’s bats allowing only 3 hits over the last six innings of work.

The essentials:
Game Day 32
Hollywood         100  000  000  000  02  3  10  0
Chico                000  000  100  000  00  1   7   1

MissouriData
Pitching – Lieber 5.1, Urbina 2.2, Smoltz 4, Mantei (W) 2
Catching – Matheny 14
Home Runs – None
Stolen Bases – None
Injuries – None
Ejections – None
Limits Used – None

ChicoData:
Pitching – Halama 6, Boehringer 2, Eischen 3, Williamson (L) 3
Catching – Flaherty 14
Home Runs – Cruz (off Urbina, 7th, 0 on)
Stolen Bases – None
Injuries – None
Ejections – None
Limits Used – Garcia (A), Minor 1 AB R, Roberts 6 AB R, Mackowiak 4 AB R

Other Info:
Night Game, Temperature in the 90’s, Clear
Wind Light 0-9 mph
HP Umpire – Winters (N)

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Game 27  Maddux vs Ishii
Kaz Ishii made his Thespian debut in the final game before the all-star break.  Both teams needed quality starts after the marathon the night before, and both teams got them.  Ishii pitched six scoreless innings before giving up a solo home run to Alex Rodriguez in the seventh.  He limited the Hitmen to three hits, although he did give up 5 free passes.  The Thespians scored single runs in the 4th and 6th to jump out to a 2 run lead.  A Rod’s blast cut the lead to one.

Mark Fyhrie entered the game in the eighth, and only had real trouble with one hitter.  Unfortunately that hitter was Luis Gonzalez.  Gonzo tied the game with a home run in the eighth, and gave the lead to the Hitmen in the 10th with a 2-run blast.  Maddux continued to pitch as the Hitmen pen was spent.  A Halter triple opened the Thespian 10th, and with one out, Roberts walked, and Grissom singled cutting the lead to one.  But Maddux got Delgado to bounce into a game ending double play, and the Hitmen had once again swept the Thespians.

The essentials
Game Day 33
Hollywood         000  000  110  2     4  8  0
Chico                000  101  000  1     3  9  0

HollywoodData:
Pitching – Maddux (W) 10
Catching – Matheny 10
Home Runs – Rodriguez (off Ishii, 7th, 0 on), Gonzalez 2 (2 off Fyhrie, 8th, 0 on, 10th, 1 on)
Stolen Bases – None
Injuries – None
Ejections – None
Limits Used – None

ChicoData:
Pitching – Ishii 7, Fyhrie (L) 3
Catching – Wilson 10
Home Runs – Garcia (off Maddux, 4th, 0 on)
Stolen Bases – None
Injuries – None
Ejections – None
Limits Used – Garcia (A), Roberts 3 AB R, Minor 1 AB R

Other Info:
Night Game, Temperature in the 90’s, Clear
Wind light at 0-9 mph
HP Umpire – Barrett (N)

Records going into the break – Hollywood 20-10, Chico 11-19